Moderate Calcification Research Articles

Novel Common Femoral Artery Lesion Classification in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Revascularization.

Common femoral artery (CFA) is a critical segment of the lower-limb arterial tree. We sought to propose an extensive classification in order to appraise a diagnostic and therapeutic approach. A retrospective cohort of CFA lesions with endovascular therapy was evaluated. We appraised the extension, the degree of stenosis and the calcium burden. A new group "IV" included lesions that started at the external iliac artery or common iliac artery extending into the CFA and affecting its bifurcation. The primary outcome was the need for a retrograde bailout access after failed anterograde access and the procedural time. From 2012 to 2020, a total of 58 lower limbs in patients with CFA lesions were included. New proposed group IV compromised 36% of lesions. Additionally, procedural time was significantly longer in group IV lesions compared with the rest (76.9 ± 32.23min vs 47.67 ± 17.93min, p < 0.01), as was the requirement of retrograde bailout access (23.8 vs 2.6%, p = 0.03). Occlusive lesions were associated with longer procedural times and bailout retrograde access compared to stenotic lesions (74.7 ± 33.6min vs 48.29 ± 16min, p < 0.001 and 26.1 vs 0%, p = 0.006, respectively), as well as heavy calcification compared to mild or moderate calcification (73.18 ± 28.15 vs 51.86 ± 25.1, p = 0.06 and 29.4 vs 2.4%, p = 0.009, respectively). Secondary clinical outcomes and target lesion revascularization did not differ among groups. Our classification includes a new group of extensive and frequent lesions, which did not fit in previous classifications.

Association of Trabecular Bone Score-Adjusted Fracture Risk Assessment Tool with Coronary Artery Calcification in Women.

The trabecular bone score (TBS) was found to be significantly associated with moderate coronary artery calcification (CAC). The aim of this study was to further explore the association between TBS-adjusted Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) and CAC score in women. The electronic medical record database of a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan yielded women who received both coronary computed tomography and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement during their general health examination. Health history, anthropomorphic measurements, laboratory results, BMD, and T-scores were obtained. TBS values were calculated from database spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry files. Linear regression analyses tested the association between CAC score and 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture (HF) determined by TBS-adjusted FRAX. Of the 116 women (mean age 55.8 years) studied, 24.1% had osteoporosis. Simple linear regression showed a significant association of CAC score with an increase in MOF and HF risk as measured by TBS-adjusted FRAX. In multiple linear regression adjusted for potential confounders, CAC score remained significantly associated with TBS-adjusted FRAX for right MOF (p = 0.002), left MOF (p = 0 006), right HF (p = 0.005), and left HF (p = 0.015). In conclusion, clinicians should be vigilant to the potential increased risk of coronary events among women with increased TBS-adjusted FRAX for MOF and HF.

The association between posterior brain cerebral circulation calcification and coronary arteries calcification and its stroke risk in a Saudi population: a retrospective study

BackgroundAnterior cerebral circulation calcification and stroke occurrence association is well established in the literature. Posterior cerebral circulation calcification associated with coronary calcification and stroke incidence has not been properly investigated in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the clinical relationship between posterior cerebral circulation calcification and coronary artery calcifications and to describe the association between risk factors and stroke occurrence based on computed tomography imaging.ResultsA total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 64.9 ± 12.4. Of the patients, 69.3 were male. Most of the patients were Saudi (72.3%), 28.6% were smokers, 36.4% were overweight, and 22.1% were obese. Exactly 61.4% had mild coronary artery calcification, 26.7% had moderate calcification, and 11.9% had severe calcification. 34.7% had an anterior stroke, and 23.8% had a posterior stroke. Posterior cerebral circulation calcification was more evident in patients with coronary artery calcification, and it increased with the severity level (p = 0.001). Posterior cerebral circulation calcification was significantly associated with stroke (67.4%, p = < 0.001).ConclusionCoronary artery calcification is significantly associated with posterior cerebral circulation calcification. Furthermore, stroke incidence increased with the presence of posterior cerebral circulation calcification.

Incremental value of global longitudinal strain to predict stress echocardiography positivity in asymptomatic diabetic patients

French guideline recently added the presence of an “abnormal left ventricle” on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to define very high-risk diabetic patients who may benefit from silent coronary artery disease (CAD) screening. We aimed to investigate the incremental value of resting Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) in predicting stress TTE positivity in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Consecutive asymptomatic patients with DM referred for screening for silent CAD by stress TTE (effort of dobutamine) between January 2017 and December 2018 were included ( n = 273). Stress test positivity was defined as stress-induced new or worsening of preexisting left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Patients with a positive stress test ( n = 28; 10%) were more likely to be smokers (71% vs. 17%), to have known diabetes for more than 10 years, carotid atheroma, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy (57.1% vs. 18.0%), moderate or severe aortic or mitral calcifications and a lower GLS (−16.7 ± 2.9 vs. −18.9 ± 2.2%) than those with a negative test (all P ≤ 0.014). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, a DM duration > 10 years, diabetic retinopathy and lower GLS (OR [95% CI] = 0.76 [0.64–0.93] per % decrease) remained independently associated with a positive stress TTE. The Chi 2 of the model was significantly improved by the addition of GLS on top of the baseline clinical variables, repolarization abnormalities and DM related complications (Chi 2 56.9 to 73.8; P < 0.001) ( Table 1 , Fig. 1 ). Screening CAD in asymptomatic patients with DM is challenging and debated. In this context, it is crucial to identify early markers of CAD in this population. Our study shows that GLS is strongly associated with the presence of silent ischemia and could be one of these new parameters to be routinely assessed in this population.

Short Communication: Predictive Value of HIV-Related Versus Traditional Risk Factors for Coronary Atherosclerosis in People Aging with HIV.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of morbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH). We compared the predictive value of HIV-related and traditional CVD risk factors to assess which factors best predict the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in PLWH. This is a cross-sectional study in PLWH over 50 years of age who performed computed tomography coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring between 2009 and 2019 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The following outcomes were analyzed: CAC = 0 (no calcification), CAC >0 (any calcification), CAC >100 (moderate calcification), and CAC >400 (severe calcification). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of coronary calcification. A total of 744 patients were included (mean age 56 ± 5.7 years, 94.8% male, 84% white). A CAC >0 was found in 392 (52.7%), CAC >100 in 90 (12.1%), and CAC >400 in 42 (5.6%) subjects. CAC >100 was strongly associated with hypertension [odds ratio, OR: 2.91, (95% confidence interval: 1.93-4.36), p < .001], dyslipidemia [2.71 (1.81-4.06), p < .001], and diabetes [2.53 (1.29-4.96), p = .01]. Regarding HIV-specific factors, a significant association was found with exposure (>6 years) to protease inhibitors [1.67 (1.06-2.61), p = .05], whereas exposure to tenofovir (>8 years) was negatively associated with CAC >100 [0.54 (0.30-0.98), p = .05]. Despite the high prevalence of hypertension (45.4%) only 21.5% were on antihypertensives, whereas only 29.2% of eligible candidates were receiving lipid-lowering drugs for primary prevention of CVD. Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors remain the strongest predictors of coronary atherosclerosis in PLWH as in the general population. These results underscore the importance of optimizing treatment of hypertension and promoting primary prevention strategies that may be underused in PLWH.

One-Year Outcomes of Two Different Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents (Zilver PTX and Eluvia) for Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document (TASC) C/D Obstructive Femoropopliteal Lesions

Background: Endovascular therapy is one of the standard treatment options for patients with peripheral arterial disease. Paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) have shown promising results in the treatment of obstructive femoropopliteal lesions. Two types of PES, namely, Zilver PTX (Cook Medical, USA) and Eluvia (Boston Scientific, USA), are available worldwide. However, no study has yet compared the outcomes of applying both PES types in the real world. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the one-year outcomes of two different types of PES for Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document (TASC) C/D obstructive femoropopliteal lesions following suboptimal angioplasty. Patients and Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational study examined 37 limbs of 34 patients (30 males and four females) with the mean age of 71.9 ± 9.1 years (range, 53-90 years), who were included consecutively from February 2017 to May 2018. In all patients, either a Zilver PTX (Cook Medical) or an Eluvia (Boston Scientific) PES was used for TASC C/D obstructive femoropopliteal lesions following suboptimal angioplasty. Moreover, the patients’ one-year primary patency rate, freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR), and event-free survival rates were determined. Results: The mean lesion length was measured to be 24.6 ± 6.6 cm (range, 9 - 46 cm). Based on the results, 78% of the lesions (29 limbs) showed occlusion, and 46% (17 limbs) showed more than moderate calcification. According to the TASC classification, type D lesions were detected in 25 (68%) limbs, while type C lesions were detected in 12 (32%) limbs. The mean number of stents used was 2.5 ± 0.7 per limb (range, 1 - 3) to cover a mean length of 24.3 ± 7.9 cm (range, 6-35 cm). Overall, 56 Zilver PTX stents for 23 limbs and 36 Eluvia stents for 14 limbs were used. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of one-year primary patency and freedom from TLR were 78% and 88%, respectively (Zilver PTX stent, 76.3% and 81.2%, respectively; Eluvia stent, 91.7% and 100%, respectively). Major adverse events were reported in two patients (2/37, 5.4%), including acute thrombotic occlusion of the treated lesions. Conclusion: Both types of PES showed promising one-year outcomes for TASC C/D lesions regarding safety and efficacy, without any significant differences; therefore, they can be considered as an alternative therapeutic approach for surgery.

Moderate-severe coronary calcification predicts long-term cardiovascular death in CT lung cancer screening: The ITALUNG trial

PurposeCoronary artery calcifications (CAC) are very strong indicators for increased cardio-vascular (CV) risk and can be evaluated also in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer screening. We assessed whether a simple and fast CAC visual score is associated with CV mortality. MethodsCAC were retrospectively assessed by two observers using a 4-score (absent, mild, moderate and severe) scale in baseline LDCT obtained in 1364 participants to the ITALUNG trial who had 55–69 years of age and a smoking history ≥20 pack–years. Correlations with CV risk factors at baseline and with CV mortality after 11 years of follow-up were investigated. ResultsCAC were absent in 470 (34.5%), mild in 433 (31.7%), moderate in 357 (26.2%) and severe in 104 (7.6%) subjects. CAC severity correlated (≤0.001) with age, male sex, pack-years, history of arterial hypertension or diabetes, obesity and treated hypercholesterolemia. Twenty-one CV deaths occurred. Moderate or severe CAC were significantly associated with higher CV mortality after adjustment for all other known risk factors (ARR = 2.72; 95 %CI:1.04–7.11). Notably, also in subjects with none or one only additional CV risk factor, the presence of moderate-severe CAC allowed to identify a subgroup of subjects with higher CV death risk (RR = 3.66; CI95%:1.06–12.6). ConclusionsModerate or severe CAC visually assessed in LDCT examinations for lung cancer screening are independently associated with CV mortality.

Resting Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain to Identify Silent Myocardial Ischemia in Asymptomatic Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Screening for silent coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is challenging and controversial. In this context, it seems crucial to identify early markers of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the incremental value of resting left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) for the prediction of positive results on stress (exercise or dobutamine) transthoracic echocardiography in 273 consecutive asymptomatic high-risk patients with DM. Positive results on stress transthoracic echocardiography were defined as stress-induced LV wall motion abnormalities (new or worsening preexisting abnormalities). Compared with patients with negative stress results, those with positive stress results (n=28 [10%]) more frequently had cardiovascular risk factors, complications of DM, vascular disease, moderate and severe calcification of the aortic valve and mitral annulus, and worse resting LV GLS (-16.7±2.9% vs -19.0±1.9%, P<.001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, DM duration > 10years, diabetic retinopathy, LV hypertrophy, and impaired LV GLS (odds ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.14-1.70] per percentage increase; odds ratio, 5.16 [95% CI, 1.96-13.59] for LV GLS worse than -18%) were independently associated with positive results on stress transthoracic echocardiography. The area under the curve to predict positive results was 0.74 for LV GLS with a cutoff of -18.0% (sensitivity 68%, specificity 78%). The area under the curve of the multivariable model to predict test results was improved by the addition of LV GLS (P<.001), with a bias-corrected area under the curve after bootstrapping of 0.842 [95% CI, 0.753-0.893]. The present findings show that resting LV GLS is associated with the presence of silent ischemia and could be useful to better identify asymptomatic patients with DM who might benefit from coronary artery disease screening.

Intravascular Lithotripsy for Peripheral Artery Calcification: 30-Day Outcomes From the Randomized Disrupt PAD III Trial

Randomized, controlled, multicenter trial at 45 centers in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and the United States between February 2017 and May 2020 (Shockwave Medical Peripheral Lithoplasty System Study for PAD, Santa Clara, California [Disrupt PAD III]). There were 306 patients with moderate or severe calcification in a femoropopliteal artery who were allocated randomly to vessel preparation with intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) (n = 153) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (n = 153) followed by definitive treatment with a drug-coated balloon or provisional stenting. Procedural success (66% vs 50%) and the percentage of lesions with residual stenosis of no more than 30% (66% vs 52%) were significantly greater in the IVL group, whereas flow-limiting dissections occurred significantly more frequently in the PTA group (1% vs 7%) after dilatation (5% vs 17%) and stent placement (5% vs 18%) were significantly greater in the PTA group. IVL is an effective vessel preparation strategy that facilitates definitive endovascular treatment in calcified femoropopliteal arteries.

Approximation of the Ankle-Brachial Index in the Setting of Medial Arterial Calcific Sclerosis

The presence of medial arterial calcific sclerosis is known to cause inaccuracy in the interpretation of noninvasive vascular testing. This substantially limits the utility of an important baseline diagnostic test for peripheral arterial disease. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to derive a method to effectively factor out calcification in the interpretation of the ankle and digital brachial indices. The noninvasive vascular testing results of 160 subjects were stratified into the absence of calcification, mild calcification, moderate calcification, and severe calcification based on plain film radiographic findings of the infrageniculate vessels. Measurements were then performed of the pulse volume recording (PVR) waveforms at brachial, ankle and digital anatomic levels to include PVR wavelength and PVR upstroke length, with a calculation of the ratio of PVR upstroke length to PVR wavelength. These measurements were compared between groups and then correlated to the ankle and digital brachial indices. A significant difference was observed in the PVR upstroke ratio between the 3 anatomic levels (0.1818 vs 0.2622 vs 0.3191; p < .001), but not between the 4 calcification groups (0.2457 vs 0.2363 vs 0.2694 vs 0.2631; p = .242). A significant negative correlation was observed between the PVR upstroke ratio and the ankle brachial index (ABI) (Pearson -0.454; p = .002) with linear regression indicating the relationship is defined by the formula: Effective ankle brachial index = 1.17 – (1.33 × PVR upstroke ratio at ankle level). A significant negative correlation was also observed between the PVR upstroke ratio and the digital brachial index (Pearson -0.553; p < .001) with linear regression indicating the relationship is defined by the formula: Effective toe brachial index = 1.04 – (1.61 × PVR upstroke ratio at digital level). The results of this investigation demonstrate the feasibility of, and provide equations to approximate, the effective ankle brachial and toe brachial indices in the setting of medial arterial calcification.

Circulatory collapse after sheath removal in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation

An 87-year-old woman (146 cm, 42.2 kg) underwent transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI) uneventfully. Following the removal of the delivery sheath and achieving access-site haemostasis, hemodynamic instability became gradually obvious. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed free fluid in the retroperitoneal and intraabdominal cavities, suggestive of retroperitoneal haemorrhage (RPH), which perforated the abdominal cavity with extravasation of the contrast material (arrow), thus indicating an ongoing haemorrhage. The damaged site of the external iliac artery (arrow) was confirmed using digital subtraction angiography. The patient successfully underwent emergency endovascular aortic repair using a covered stent to seal the vascular rupture. In order to treat the abdominal compartment syndrome, approximately 2,700 ml of haemorrhagic fluid was evacuated using ultrasound-guided abdominal paracentesis. Eventually, she was discharged in a stable condition. RPH is a rare, although severe, complication of TF-TAVI, and has been reported in 0%–2.2% of cases. It is associated with a damage to iliofemoral artery, and constitutes the most frequent complication associated with vascular access, with the main predictive factors being the dimensions of small vessels, moderate or severe calcification, and centre experience. The diagnosis of RPH is often delayed due to the non-specific clinical presentations, such as flank, abdominal, back pain, and/or progressive hemodynamic instability. Although the best management protocol for RPH remains controversial, conservative management should only be applied in stable patients. In cases of uncontrollable, ongoing bleeding, endovascular treatment or embolization should be the method of choice. Open surgical intervention is rarely require. Nevertheless, if treated inappropriately, the mortality rates remain high.

Intravascular Lithotripsy for Treatment of Calcified Infrapopliteal Lesions: Results from the Disrupt PAD III Observational Study

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Shockwave S4 intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter in an “all-comers” cohort of patients with calcified infrapopliteal lesions. Materials and Methods: The Disrupt PAD III Observational Study (NCT02923193) is a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter single-arm study designed to assess the “real-world” acute safety and effectiveness of the Shockwave Peripheral IVL System for the treatment of de novo calcified, stenotic peripheral arteries. Patients were eligible for enrollment if they had claudication or critical limb ischemia (CLI) and at least moderate calcification as assessed by angiography. This subanalysis includes consecutive patients enrolled with angiographic core lab-assessed treatment of infrapopliteal arteries using the Shockwave S4 IVL catheter. Results From July 2018 to August 2020, 101 patients with 114 calcified infrapopliteal arteries treated with the S4 IVL catheter were enrolled at 15 sites in 3 countries. CLI was present in 69.3% of patients. The anterior tibial and tiboperoneal trunk were the most commonly treated vessels with an overall mean reference vessel diameter (RVD) of 3.1±0.8 mm, minimum lumen diameter (MLD) of 0.5±0.6 mm, and a corresponding diameter stenosis of 83.4%±15.8% by core lab assessment. Mean lesion length was 64.7±54.7 mm with moderate to severe calcification in 69.3% of lesions by the Peripheral Academic Research Consortium (PARC) criteria. Adjunctive calcium-modifying technology, defined as scoring or cutting balloon and/or atherectomy, was used in 22.7% of procedures. The average acute gain at the end of the procedure was 2.0±0.7 mm with a residual stenosis <50% achieved in 99.0% of lesions and a mean residual stenosis of 23.3±12.5%. There were no flow-limiting dissection, embolization, slow flow/no-reflow, or abrupt closure events at the end of the procedure. Conclusion This subanalysis of the PAD III Observational Study represents the largest report to-date of IVL treatment of heavily calcified below-the-knee (BTK) lesions in a “real-world” patient cohort. The use of S4 IVL demonstrated consistent acute safety and effectiveness outcomes consistent with prior IVL peripheral studies. These consistent outcomes were achieved with the initial use of the S4 IVL catheter for treatment of complex BTK lesions.

In Hospital Outcomes for High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in Patients Referred From a Rural Centre to Metropolitan Sites

Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) guidelines recommend elective high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not performed in sites greater than 1 hour from cardiac surgery. In hospital outcomes for all patients from Orange Health Service (OHS) from January 2017 to January 2020 who were transferred electively to tertiary centres in Sydney for high risk PCI were examined. One hundred and fourteen (114) patients were identified, with 1,259 PCIs performed at OHS over the same period without transfer. The mean age of these 114 patients was 71 years, with 74.6% male. Receiving hospitals were Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW (66.7%), Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW (19.3%) and Strathfield Private Hospital, Strathfield, NSW (14%). The definition of high risk and indication for transfer included at least one of: moderate or greater calcification of the target lesion or proximal segment (34%), single or multiple target lesions that in aggregate jeopardised over 50% of remaining viable myocardium (27%), degenerated saphenous vein grafts (14.8%), chronic total occlusions (7.0%) and severe left ventricular (LV) impairment (3.9%). American Heart Society/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) lesion types were A (1%), B1 (4.2%), B2 (40.2%), and C (54.6%). PCI was performed via the femoral route in 96.2%. The mean procedure duration was 72 minutes, mean combined fluoroscopy time was 19 minutes and mean radiation dose as defined by Reference Air Kerma was 1,630mGy. Complications occurred in 13 patients and were: acute vessel dissection requiring stenting (4), perforation (2), acute vessel closure (4), puncture site related (1), and life-threatening arrhythmia (2). There were no cases of emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or death. This contemporary cohort of high-risk patients transferred electively from a regional PCI centre to a tertiary cardiac unit underwent lengthy PCI procedures, with high radiation doses, and a modest rate of peri-procedural complications, but had otherwise excellent procedural and clinical outcomes.

Qualitative coronary artery calcification scores and risk of all cause, COPD and pneumonia hospital admission in a large CT lung cancer screening cohort

BackgroundPatients at high-risk for lung cancer and qualified for CT lung cancer screening (CTLS) are at risk for numerous cardio-pulmonary comorbidities. We sought to examine if qualitatively assessed coronary artery calcifications (CAC) on CTLS exams could identify patients at increased risk for non-cardiovascular events such as all cause, COPD and pneumonia related hospitalization and to verify previously reported associations between CAC and mortality and cardiovascular events. Study design and methodsPatients (n = 4673) from Lahey Hospital and Medical Center who underwent CTLS from January 12, 2012 through September 30, 2017 were included with clinical follow-up through September 30, 2019. CTLS exams were qualitatively scored for the presence and severity of CAC at the time of exam interpretation using a four point scale: none, mild, moderate, and marked. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between CT qualitative CAC and all-cause, COPD-related, and pneumonia-related hospital admissions. Results3631 (78%) of individuals undergoing CTLS had some degree of CAC on their baseline exam: 1308 (28.0%), 1128 (24.1%), and 1195 (25.6%) had mild, moderate and marked coronary calcification, respectively. Marked CAC was associated with all-cause hospital admission and pneumonia related admissions HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.23–1.78 and HR 2.19; 95% 1.30–3.71, respectively. Mild, moderate and marked CAC were associated with COPD-related admission HR 2.30; 95% CI 1.31–4.03, HR 2.17; 95% CI 1.20–3.91 and HR 2.27; 95% CI 1.24–4.15. ConclusionQualitative CAC on CTLS exams identifies individuals at elevated risk for all cause, pneumonia and COPD-related hospital admissions.

Levels of serum ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) predicts severity of abdominal aortic calcification in end-stage renal disease patients receiving regular dialysis.

To investigate the correlation between serum ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (ENPP1) level and severity of abdominal vascular calcification in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving dialysis. A total of 124 patients were consecutively enrolled into the study in our local institution. Based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines and recommendations, abdomen lateral X-ray was used to determine abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS) for each patient at enrollment. Patients were divided into three groups based on AACS: no or mild calcification group, moderate calcification group, and severe calcification group. The relationships between ENPP1 levels and AACS were assessed by Spearman analysis and the value of ENPP1 in predicting severity of abdominal aortic calcification was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The level of ENPP1 in dialysis patients was (7.68 ± 1.67) ng/ml. There was no significant difference in serum ENPP1 level between peritoneal dialysis patients and hemodialysis patients (p > 0.05). The AACS of dialysis patients was negatively correlated with ENPP1 value (r=-0.70). Compared to no/mild calcification patients, the levels of serum ENPP1 in patients with moderate/severe calcification were decreased significantly (p < 0.01). The severity of vascular calcification was correlated with serum ENPP1 value, the severer the vascular calcification, the lower the serum ENPP1 level, and the difference was statistically significant (all p < 0.05). The area under ROC curve of ENPP1 was 0.90, the corresponding sensitivity was 0.86, and the specificity was 0.87. Levels of serum ENPP1 in non-diabetic ESRD patients are negatively related to the severity of abdominal aortic vascular calcification.

Case Report: Role of Rotational Atherectomy in Complex PCI

Background : One in three patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) exhibits moderate or severe coronary artery calcification. Coronary calcification remains a major independent predictor of PCI failure and adverse outcomes. PCI of calcified coronary lesions remains challenging, despite significant improvements in the available tools and techniques. Rotational Atherectomy (RA) is a critical component to improve PCI success in these situations by producing lumen enlargement by physical removal of plaque and reduction in plaque rigidity, thus facilitating dilation Case Illustration: A 73-year-old man with exertional angina was referred to our hospital, with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ex-smoker and dyslipidemia. Physical exam, electrocardiogram, chest x-rays, and laboratory findings were unremarkable, but transthoracic echocardiogram revealed anterior wall hypokinesis. History of cardiac catheterization outside of our center with angiographic result of left anterior descending (LAD) lesion, highly calcified, non-dilatable on first several POBA attempts. Coronary angiography at our center, revealed diffuse calcification from proximal to distal of the LAD artery with about 90% maximum stenosis in mid LAD. RA (Rotablator, Boston) was then performed with A 1.50 mm burr gradually advanced at 150,000 rpm to passed the lesion. After deployments of stents, final angiogram showed well positioned stents with good distal run-off flow. The patient was uneventful during the procedure and was discharged following day. Discussion: In experienced hands, RA is as safe as standard PCI. RA is as a tool to make PCI possible in complex lesions with moderate or severe calcification when clinical variables make PCI appropriate. Rotablator is a catheter-based interventional cardiology procedure using a high-speed rotational device designed to ablate atherosclerotic plaque and restore luminal patency. This help to facilitate stent delivery, avoiding the barotrauma caused by repeated high-pressure balloon inflations that can lead to vessel dissection or perforation. Atherectomy can be performed safely with optimal burr selection and proper ablation techniques, and as a result, complication rates have been significantly minimized, with few changes in the acute complications reported in contemporary studies.

Evaluation of the MANTA Vascular Closure Device in Transfemoral TAVI.

The MANTA vascular closure device (VCD) is a novel collagen plug-based VCD for large bore arteriotomies. The current literature regarding complication rates of this device is quite variable and mostly limited to relatively small case series. This study is retrospective analysis of the MANTA VCD-related main access site complications according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) criteria during the hospital stay. Particular attention was paid to the detailed analysis of multislice computed tomography with regard to the anatomy of the access vessel and the puncture site itself. A total of 524 patients underwent transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF TAVI) including the use of the MANTA device (18F) for percutaneous vascular closure. A group of 22 patients was excluded from the study due to incomplete imaging data. During the study period, we observed 28 major (5.6%) and five minor (1.0%) MANTA device-related vascular complications. There was no patient death related to these adverse events. Female gender, vessel angulation at the puncture site, and at least moderate calcification of the dorsal vessel segment were identified as independent predictors for major complications. The MANTA device is a feasible option for vascular closure of large bore arteriotomies in patients undergoing TF TAVI or other percutaneous transfemoral interventions. Furthermore, we have identified novel predictors for device failure/complications that should be taken into account for selection of the appropriate closure device. To our knowledge, this report is one of the largest case series analyzing the use of the MANTA VCD.

Placental morphology in different types of diabetes mellitus

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare placental morphological features from women with different types of diabetes mellitus considering method of DM correction.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, single-center, cohort study was carried out. We analyzed morphological examination results of 3300 placentas, which made uр the following comparison groups: type 1 diabetes mellitus on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (n = 60), type 1 diabetes mellitus on multiple subcutaneous insulin injections (n = 446), type 2 diabetes mellitus on diet (n = 95), type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy (n = 134), gestational diabetes mellitus on diet (n = 1652), gestational diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy (n = 735), preeclampsia (n = 39), and the control group (n = 139). The examined placentas were weighed, with their sizes (two diameters and thickness), cotyledon structure and defects assessed. We determined the umbilical cord junction and external characteristics of extraembryonic membranes. Fragments of the placenta (5 pieces) were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (pH 7.2), processed with the Leica TP1020 tissue processor and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections (3-4 m thick) were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 23.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0 software.&#x0D; RESULTS: Following characteristics were typical for all types of diabetes mellitus: increased placental mass metrics, chronic placental insufficiency, dissociated villous maturation disorder with prevalent immaturity, as well as involutive-dystrophic and circulatory disorders of varying severity. Placentas from women with type 1 diabetes mellitus had the specific sings: the predominance of intermediate immature villi and stem villi stromal fibrosis. The frequency of placental infarcts and fibrinoid content in the intervillous space were comparable to those in placentas from women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Inflammatory changes and moderate placental calcification were most consistently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, while gestational diabetes mellitus was characterized by soft damages. Placentas with preeclampsia showed higher prevalence of premature villous maturation, compensated placental insufficiency, and fibrinoid depositions in the intervillous and subchorionic spaces.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: Understanding relationships between placental histological features and clinical aspects of diabetes mellitus makes it possible not only to clarify the pathophysiological processes occurring in this pathology but also to optimize the algorithm for the rational management of the neonatal period of children from mothers with diabetes mellitus.

Intravascular Lithotripsy for Peripheral Artery Calcification: 30-Day Outcomes From the Randomized Disrupt PAD III Trial.

The study sought to compare short-term outcomes in patients with femoropopliteal artery calcification receiving vessel preparation with intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) prior to drug-coated balloon (DCB) for symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Endovascular treatment of calcified peripheral artery lesions is associated with suboptimal vessel expansion and increased complication risk. Although initial results from single-arm studies with IVL have been reported, comparative evidence from randomized trials is lacking for most devices in the presence of heavy calcification. The Disrupt PAD III (Shockwave Medical Peripheral Lithoplasty System Study for PAD) randomized trial enrolled patients with moderate or severe calcification in a femoropopliteal artery who underwent vessel preparation with IVL or PTA prior to DCB or stenting. The primary endpoint was core lab-adjudicated procedural success (residual stenosis≤30% without flow-limiting dissection) prior to DCB or stenting. In patients receiving IVL (n=153) or PTA (n=153), procedural success was greater in the IVL group (65.8% vs. 50.4%; p=0.01) and the percentage of lesions with residual stenosis≤30% (66.4% vs. 51.9%; p=0.02) was greater in the IVL group, while flow-limiting dissections occurred more frequently in the PTA group (1.4% vs. 6.8%; p=0.03). Post-dilatation (5.2% vs. 17.0%; p=0.001) and stent placement (4.6% vs. 18.3%; p<0.001) were also greater in the PTA group. The rates of major adverse events (IVL: 0% vs. PTA: 1.3%; p=0.16) and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (IVL: 0.7% vs. PTA: 0.7%; p=1.0) at 30days were comparable between groups. IVL is an effective vessel preparation strategy that facilitates definitive endovascular treatment in calcified femoropopliteal arteries in patients with peripheral artery disease. (Shockwave Medical Peripheral Lithoplasty System Study for PAD [Disrupt PAD III]; NCT02923193).

MO563HIGH DIALYSATE MAGNESIUM AND CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFICATION IN MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS*

Abstract Background and Aims Cardiovascular calcification is highly prevalent among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Low normal serum magnesium has been linked to a more severe degree of vascular calcification and a decrease in patient survival. An inhibitory effect of extracellular magnesium on osteogenic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells and the upregulation of anti-calcification protein have been confirmed in vitro. Increased dialysate magnesium concentration has also been shown to lower calcification propensity of the serum of maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. Method This study is an investigator initiated, single-blinded, parallel-group, matched case-control clinical trial that investigated the effect of high dialysate magnesium concentration for 24 weeks on the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in maintenance HD patients. The changes in laboratory data and bone mineral density (BMD) were also examined. Seventy-six ESRD patients underwent CAC screening by multi-slice computed tomography and BMD measurement by dual-x-ray absorptiometry. Only patients with Agatston score&amp;gt;300 were included. They were matched according to the initial CAC score that fell within 20% of one another. Twenty patients were assigned to high dialysate magnesium concentration of 1.75 mEq/L and the matched controls were kept on standard dialysate magnesium concentration of 0.7 mEq/L. CAC and BMD measurements were repeated after 24 weeks. Laboratory data were obtained prior to dialysis at study entry, 8-week intervals during the study and 2 weeks after the study ended. Results There were no significant differences in age, sex, BMI, underlying diseases, dialysis vintage, medications, baseline CAC scores and BMD. The median baseline CAC Agatston score (Volume score) were 1923 (720) and 1672 (785) in the standard and high dialysate groups, respectively. At the end of the study, a significant increase in the CAC score was observed in both groups. Because majority of the included patients had severe calcification burden at baseline, patients were categorized into 2 subgroups using the median baseline CAC Agatston (1600) and Volume scores (700) as cut-offs. Among patients with CAC Agatston score &amp;lt;=1600, CAC score increased significantly in the standard dialysate magnesium group (P&amp;lt;0.01) but was stable in the high dialysate magnesium group (P=0.33). Among patients with CAC Agatston score &amp;gt;1600, the severity of CAC worsened in both groups. The progression of CAC was analyzed by the difference between the follow-up and the baseline square root transformed Agatston and Volume scores. In subgroup of patients with less severe calcification, more patients in the standard dialysate magnesium group progressed compared to the high dialysate magnesium group (P=0.03). In subgroup of patients with more severe calcification, the number of progressors were comparable among the 2 groups. Serum and ionized magnesium levels increased substantially during the study and returned to baseline after the return to standard dialysate magnesium concentration. The highest predialysis serum magnesium was 3.8 mg/dL. Most patients who received high dialysate magnesium reported the disappearance of symptoms of muscle cramps (P=0.01) and requested the high dialysate magnesium be continued after the end of the study. There were no significant changes in serum calcium, phosphate or PTH levels. The decline in BMD was observed in both groups but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion High dialysate magnesium was well tolerated and could ameliorate the progression of CAC in maintenance HD patients with mild to moderate vascular calcification.